Global business travel expenditures are expected to reach a record $1.27 trillion in 2026, according to recent projections. However, new research highlights a trend in which employees are increasingly covering a larger portion of travel expenses upfront.

Data from Dragonpass, a rewards platform, indicates that UK workers commonly advance an average of £95 per business trip prior to seeking reimbursement from their employers. This practice appears to place additional financial strain on younger employees, particularly those under the age of 25. Among this group, 30 percent reported fronting between £101 and £150 for individual trips, suggesting that younger staff members bear a heavier relative cost burden.

The findings raise concerns about the financial resilience of employees who frequently travel for work, especially as the overall cost of global business travel continues to rise. While companies continue to allocate significant budgets toward travel, the upfront expenditure required of employees may affect participation in business trips and overall job satisfaction.

The data underscores the need for organizations to evaluate their travel expense policies, with an eye toward reducing the immediate financial load on staff. Adjusting reimbursement procedures or providing advances could help alleviate the economic pressure on employees, particularly those early in their careers who may be less equipped to absorb sizable out-of-pocket costs.